Emotional development in infants and toddlers

A child’s development includes both physical and emotional stages. Parents frequently concentrate on the stages of the child’s physical development and ignore the emotional development. A little understanding and insight into the emotional development will help make sense of the child’s behaviour.

The following are guidelines for the emotional developmental stages of children:

Begins to show negative emotions and may resist naps, refuse food and may have tantrums.

Begins to understand taking turn games.

Needs comfort and reassurance from parents.

Afraid of being away from parents and may cry when they leave.

Two Years

Shows extreme behaviour like very aggressive or calm, helpful or stubborn.

Gets angry when stopped from doing something.

Temper tantrums are common and the child tends to cry, scream, kick, bite and can be rough with other children too.

Needs to be told what is right or wrong.

Easily distracted.

Has a little concept of sharing and usually plays alone alongside other children.

Likes routine and changes are upsetting.

Shows feeling of sympathy, pity, pride and aware of praise and smile.

The child is becoming more independent.

Afraid of noises like thunder.

Fear of strangers decreasing.

Three Yearslay is the main activity and is important in the development of identity and confidence.

Play is the main activity and is important in the development of identity and confidence.

Demonstrates feelings of happiness and contentment.

Continues to be self-centred

Develops a vivid imagination and has imaginary friends.

Shows ability to bargain but not reason.

Distraction technique still works.

Less frustrated and angry.

May have fear of dark and separation pangs.

Once the parents understand and acknowledge how their child might be feeling at a particular time they will be able to help him/her to work through what has been experienced. Parents should keep in mind that each child develops in his/her own unique way depending on personality and at different rates.

However, if the parents notice the following things by the time the baby is 8 to 9 months old, they may consult the doctor:

If the child is not smiling or responding to sounds

If the child avoids close contact or cuddling.

If the child is inconsolable at night or cannot self soothe.

If the child is not interested in games like peek-a-boo.

If the child is around 12 months old and the parents notice the following, they should consult the doctor immediately: